PHYS THER
Vol. 90, No. 3, March 2010, pp. 427-437
DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20090023
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
ptj.20090023v1
90/3/427    most recent
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Tawashy, A. E.
Right arrow Articles by Sproule, S.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Tawashy, A. E.
Right arrow Articles by Sproule, S.
Related Collections
Right arrow Therapeutic Exercise
Right arrow Hemiplegia/Paraplegia/Quadriplegia
Right arrow Spinal Cord Injuries
Right arrow Case Reports
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?

Case Reports

Aerobic Exercise During Early Rehabilitation for Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Amira E. Tawashy, Janice J. Eng, Andrei V. Krassioukov, William C. Miller and Shannon Sproule

A.E. Tawashy, MSc, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, and G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was a graduate student at the time of this project.
J.J. Eng, PT/OT, PhD, is Professor, Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, 212-2177 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z3. She also is affiliated with the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) and the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
A.V. Krassioukov, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor, Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, and the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia.
W.C. Miller, OT, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, and the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia.
S. Sproule, PT, BSc(PT), is Physical Therapist, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Address all correspondence to Dr Eng at: janice.eng{at}vch.ca.

Background and Purpose: People with spinal cord injuries (SCIs), particularly those with injuries causing tetraplegia, are at risk for cardiovascular illnesses. There is a compelling need to address poor cardiovascular health as early as possible after cervical SCI. The purpose of this case report is to illustrate the process of aerobic exercise prescription during inpatient rehabilitation for cervical SCI.

Case Description: The patient was a 22-year-old man who had sustained a complete C5 SCI during a swimming accident 12 weeks before he participated in an aerobic exercise program. The program was developed to facilitate aerobic capacity while minimizing muscular fatigue. The patient attended 18 sessions over a 2-month period.

Outcomes: The patient's exercise tolerance increased in terms of both exercise duration and exercise intensity. Measurements of cardiovascular health, taken before and after training, revealed substantial increases in peak oxygen uptake (20%) and orthostatic tolerance over the course of the program.

Discussion: The patient experienced typical complications associated with acute SCI (eg, orthostatic hypotension, urinary tract infections). He exhibited several signs of improved exercise tolerance and wheelchair mobility during the 2-month program, indicating potential cardiovascular and functional improvements from the exercise training.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?